The Speed Merchants by Michael Keyser - Review

This is a short excert of the opening credits from the Documentary Movie The Speed Merchants. Directed by Michael Keyser it tells the story of the 1972 World Championship of Makes. Narrated by Mario Andretti and Vic Elford, it is packed with behind the scenes footage and in car video.

In truth the 1972 season was not a classic. Driven by a formidable driving team that Included Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Sandro Munari (at the Targa Florio) and Brian Redman, the Ferrari 312PB's dominated winning all the races they entered (they did not go to Le Mans as it was believed the Formula 1 derived PB would not last the 24 hours). The principal opposition came from the Alfa Romeo team led by Vic Elford.

Even though the competition was not the greatest, the period footage is unmissable as is the insight to the lives of the top racing drivers at the time. The level of friendship between the drivers is striking, something that if the press are to be believed does not appear much in today's Formula 1 paddock.

The highlight has to be Vic Elford narrating one of his practice laps for the Targa Florio. The Targa was also probably the best race of the season with an epic battle between the Elford Alfa and the Munari Ferrari.

As a little aside, most people assume the the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512's of 1970/71 were the fastest racing cars of the period famously lapping the old Spa faster than the F1 cars in the same year. In actual fact the 312PB's were at many circuits quicker. Ickx's Pole lap at Spa (3m 12.7 secs) for the 1973 race was the fastest ever lap of the old circuit.